Ebola Outbreak: U.S. Instates Travel Restrictions

Addis Ababa – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recognizes the U.S. government’s recent Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for the DRC.

Furthermore, the U.S. has enforced entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders who have traveled to the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan recently.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, Africa CDC highlighted the longstanding partnership with the U.S. in critical areas such as disease surveillance, emergency response, workforce development, and global health security.

As of 18 May 2026, there have been around 395 suspected cases and 106 related deaths reported in the DRC (mainly within the Mongwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia Health Zones), along with two cases and one death in Kampala, Uganda.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals, contaminated materials, or deceased persons carrying the virus.

Key measures to break the transmission include early detection, prompt isolation and treatment, contact tracing, infection control, community engagement, and safe, dignified burials.

Since the outbreak’s onset, Africa CDC has actively shared information with Member States, partners, the media, and the global community, resulting in over 1,600 mentions in global media referencing Africa CDC data and technical updates.

Africa CDC acknowledges awareness of the U.S. government’s advisory as well as the entry restrictions affecting non-U.S. passport holders who have recently traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan.

The agency fully respects the sovereign responsibility of every government to protect the health and security of its citizens.

“Our concern is not with the intent to safeguard populations but with the implementation of broad travel restrictions as a primary public health measure during outbreaks,” stated Africa CDC.

“Public health actions during outbreaks should be rooted in scientific evidence, proportionality, transparency, international collaboration, and adherence to international health regulations.”

Africa CDC maintains that its stance is clear: generalized travel restrictions and border closures do not resolve outbreaks.

Such actions may induce fear, damage economies, impede transparency, complicate humanitarian efforts, and push movement toward unmonitored routes, thereby elevating public health risks.

“The fastest way to safeguard all nations is to robustly support outbreak control at its origin,” asserted H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

“Global health security cannot be achieved only through borders—it necessitates collaboration, trust, scientific engagement, and rapid investments in preparedness and response capabilities.”

This ongoing Ebola outbreak highlights a deeper structural inequality in global health innovation: the Bundibugyo Ebolavirus was identified nearly two decades ago, yet no licensed vaccines or treatments are currently available for this strain.

Africa CDC posits that if this disease had primarily threatened wealthier regions, medical countermeasures would likely be in place by now.

A similar scenario emerged during the West African Ebola outbreak, where solutions were only developed after an American doctor became infected, while thousands of Africans suffered without support.

We must not permit this error to recur.

The declaration of the PHECS on 18 May 2026 on the Africa CDC Official Website was aimed at galvanizing political leadership, resources, and coordinated action across the continent.

This is not intended to incite panic, but rather to promote solidarity, urgency, and collective accountability.

Africa CDC calls for heightened international support for:

• Enhanced cross-border readiness and regional coordination;
• Ongoing support for frontline health workers and Ministries of Health;
• Strengthening risk communication and active community engagement;
• Expansion of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus laboratory diagnostics and genomic sequencing;
• Deployment of epidemiologists and emergency response professionals;
• Increased funding for surveillance, logistics, infection prevention, and case management, including isolating cases and organizing dignified burials;
• Accelerated development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for all strains of Ebola;

Africa CDC is fully mobilized to assist the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, and all at-risk Member States.